Poa says he relied on reports in responding to COA on secret funds

MANILA, Philippines — Michael Poa, former Department of Education (DepEd) chief of staff, said on Wednesday that he relied on other officials’ reports when he prepared the department’s response to the Commission on Audit (COA) after being questioned on the use of confidential funds.

As it turned out, the officials also turned out to be lacking in firsthand knowledge of how the funds were used,

The House prosecution pointed this out in a statement on Wednesday, citing Poa’s testimony during the 21st day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

READ: Prosec: Why let Poa talk about secret funds if he’s unaware of ops?

Testifying as a hostile witness, Poa, who’s also one of the defense lawyers, said he prepared the DepEd’s response after COA asked for more information and supporting documents on how the confidential funds were used.

In its audit observation memorandum, COA questioned liquidation reports on DepEd confidential funds used during the first and second quarters of 2023 — among the transactions were ₱15.54 million in reported payments of rewards to informers.

According to Poa, the signatories to the liquidation records were Edward Fajarda, then the special disbursing officer; Duterte, as DepEd head; and an accountant.

His involvement in the confidential funds issue, Poa said, started only when he received the audit memorandum.

Poa then said he asked then-Undersecretary Nolasco Mempin to submit to him an accomplishment report regarding the use of the funds.

He later on admitted that Mempin, who served as DepEd undersecretary for administration, also had no personal knowledge of how the confidential funds had been used.

Mempin subsequently obtained four certifications from the Armed Forces of the Philippines officers and gave them to Poa.

“’Yan po ’yung sinumite sa akin,” Po said.

(“That’s what was submitted to me.”)

Those certifications were eventually attached to DepEd’s response to COA as evidence of successful programs, projects, and activities resulting from information supplied by informers.

READ: Poa admits he never saw DepEd’s vault for confidential documents

Poa said he exercised care when acting for DepEd, saying he first tried to understand the contents and supporting records when signing official documents.

“I read the supporting documents as long as I’m allowed to do so,” Poa said.

He also agreed that official factual representations should be checked to the extent possible.

Poa’s testimony remains subject to continued examination and defense cross-examination. /atm